“There are many routes and career paths within dentistry. One such route is academic dentistry,” says Sarah Dobson, a second-year dental student at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry.

“Academic dental careers allow individuals to work outside of private clinical practice. These roles may look like part-time or full-time positions at a dental school through involvement in research, teaching a didactic or clinical course, serving as an attending in clinical practice or fulfilling an administrative role.” Read on to learn more about why Ms. Dobson is pursuing a career in academic dentistry and its benefits.  

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Many dental hygiene students search for programs that not only teach the discipline’s essentials, but also help students enter the workforce upon graduation. “My dental hygiene program was very rigorous, not to mention the worldwide pandemic that occurred midway into my training,” says Joel Bautista, a recent graduate of West Coast University’s dental hygiene program. Read on as Bautista reflects on his experience as a dental hygiene student in an accelerated program during a pandemic and shares some words of wisdom for allied dental students entering similar programs.

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“Whether you are in the process of applying to a dental hygiene program, about to start your first semester or maybe even just beginning to think about dental hygiene as a career, you may want to consider what day-to-day life would look like in this academic program,” says

Third-year Dental Hygiene Student Caitlin Gray and Fourth-year Dental Hygiene Student Rachel Schwartz. Both attend the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and want to provide you with some insight on what to expect in a dental hygiene program and how to manage your personal life while in the program. “We’ll walk you through what a typical ‘day in the life of’ looks like for both junior and senior dental hygiene students.”

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“Applying to dental schools typically requires extensive job shadowing hours to submit with your application,” says Brianna Kosecki, a third-year dental student at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. “Generally, people shadow at a handful of private practices before applying to dental school, and while there is nothing wrong with that, shadowing can be a creative and unique aspect of your application! Read on to learn Kosecki’s general ideas on shadowing opportunities outside of general private practice that can help you set yourself apart from your peers. ... See More

“If you are planning to apply to dental school in the United States, ADEA AADSAS^® (ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service) is the main platform that simplifies the application process, allowing you to save time and energy by completing just one application for multiple dental schools,” says Parinaz Esteghamat, a first-year dental student at Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. “If you are aiming to apply for dental school right after your undergraduate degree, ADEA AADSAS should be filled out during your junior year. Otherwise, please keep in mind that the application to dental school is a year-round process which opens in early May and closes in February, and it is on a rolling basis (first come, first served). The earlier you apply by submitting the complete application, the higher your chance of getting an invitation for early interviews.” ... See More

“If you only retain one thing from this article, it should be that when deciding whether to apply to a certain school, ask yourself if you would attend that school if it was the only one that accepted you,” says Brian Chang, a second-year dental student at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. “Turning down an acceptance to reapply elsewhere can easily be a red flag!” 

Read on for more advice on how to carefully select your dental school designations ahead of the June ADEA AADSAS^® (ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service) submission date. 

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“If you’re applying to dental school this year, you’re probably anxiously counting down the days until the ADEA AADSAS^® (ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service) application opens this year on May 11,” says Kristen Horstmann, a third-year dental student at University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry (UCLA SOD). “And who can blame you! It’s an exciting time filled with reflection and hope. But instead of scrolling away the hours until then, consider preparing for your application now to alleviate stress later. Without even opening the application, read on to learn what you can do to prepare the strongest application possible.” ... See More

“Choosing a dental school can be quite the daunting task. It’s where you’ll spend the next four years of your life, so it’s important to find a program that challenges you yet makes you incredibly happy,” says Elyse Estra, a second-year dental student at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine.  

“Now the question is, how do you find that school? The answer is different for everyone. As a predental student, you need to decide what you’re looking for in a program, including what you’re willing to compromise on and what is non-negotiable. You can apply to as broad a range of schools as you would like, but remember, the application process is a time, financial and emotional investment. Keep reading for a guide of some factors to consider while applying to dental school.” 

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“By April or May, I’m sure predental students will want to take a break from studying and enjoy the nice weather outside in the spring and summer,” says University of Michigan School of Dentistry student Tommy Lau. “While you should take a break, the summer is also the perfect time to gain more experience and exposure to dentistry and health care while conducting research to make yourself a more competitive applicant.” Read on to learn some of the things Mr. Lau would recommend all predental students explore. It’s certainly not too early to start planning your summer now.

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“The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly altered the traditional predental experience. Due to this public health crisis, there are a number of requests from community-led initiatives, government agencies, charitable organizations and nonprofits in public health for volunteers in a variety of roles,” says Poonam Furmah, a second-year dental student at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. 

“This pandemic, although dreadful, offers unique opportunities for prehealth students to serve their local community. However, students must make informed decisions and maintain a superior standard of care to prevent further community spread to themselves and others,” Furmah said. “Not only will this add valuable skills to your repertoire, but it will also benefit those who need it most during this uncertain time.” 

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